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ANATOMY

The sea turtle body plan, or design, has changed very little over  the past 100 million years, suggesting that it is hard to improve upon perfection since their streamlined design works so well in the sea and no modifications are needed.  Their hard shell protects them from predators and allows them to dive deep.  Learn more about the names used by scientists to describe sea turtle anatomy useful in species identification.
Carapace or Shell
Each sea turtle has a characteristic carapace which can be used in species ID.

Marginal Scutes
​Not labeled in this diagram, these run along the edge of the carapace.

Beak
Also used in species ID, looking closely at the beak you can see that each turtles beak is specialized for their diet

Lateral Scutes
Counting these will help you identify the species.
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​​
Prefrontal Scales
These are the scales between the eyes and used in species ID.  Please note on the body are scutes and on the head are scales.

Plastron
The belly or the underside of the turtle.
Picture

Dorsal (top)

The pattern made by scutes on the turtles shell, or carapace, are used to quickly identify a sea turtles when observed at sea.
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Ventral (Bottom)

The number of scutes and the patterns they form are used to identify sea turtles.  Injuries can be described by their location.
Images courtesy Euroturtle.org and FAO Vol 11 Sea Turtle of the World
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Head

The prefrontal scales are used to identify species of sea turtles. Pictured here is only one pair, indicating this is a green sea turtle.

Nares = Nose

Beak or Tomium = Mouth

Lateral or Side View

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ST GEORGE'S CAYE
Mailing Address: PO Box 1234, Belize City, Belize
Cel: + (501) 673-3022  Caye: + (501) 614-3483
Email:
info@ecomarbelize.org
Picture
Copyright © 2023
  • Welcome
    • About >
      • Site Map
      • COMMUNITIES
      • Partners
      • Blog
    • References >
      • Classroom Tools
    • Photos
    • Videos
  • Research Station
    • Research Trips >
      • SGC Field Station
    • St George's Caye
    • Marine Research >
      • Conch
      • Dolphins
      • Fish
      • Manatees >
        • Manatees Research
        • Manatee ID >
          • Delfina
      • Sea Turtles >
        • Sea Turtle Rehab >
          • Grace
          • Hope 4 Freya
        • Gallow's Point >
          • Turtles Gallows Pt
          • Rhody Hope Majil
          • Hope 4 Nature
        • Robinson Point
    • Archaeology Project >
      • SGCAP 2014
      • SGCAP 2015
      • SGCAP 2016
  • Turtle Watch
    • Sea Turtle Census >
      • Nesting Beach Observations
      • In-Water Observations >
        • Photo ID
        • Turtle Recaptures
      • Stranded Sea Turtles >
        • Stranded Turtles 2010-2012
      • Illegal Take
    • Sea Turtle 101 >
      • Legislation
      • Classification
      • Anatomy
      • Life History
      • Species
      • Threats
      • Historical Importance
    • Nesting Beaches
    • Satellite Telemetry >
      • Tracking NOW >
        • St Kitts SASSY
      • Historical Tracks >
        • Belize BSTCN >
          • Gallow's Point ECOMAR
          • Gales Point GPWS
          • Hol Chan
          • Lighthouse BAS
          • Lighthouse MAR Alliance
          • Glovers ECOMAR
          • Glovers WCS
          • Port Honduras TIDE
        • Barbados UWI
        • Cayman Islands DOE
        • Costa Rica STC
        • Jamaica NOAA
        • Mexico NOAA
        • Mexico UNAM
      • Education Resources
    • Outreach Materials >
      • Turtle Watch Newsletters
    • Operation Green Turtle
    • Turtle Network >
      • In-Water Surveys
      • Sea Turtle Rehab
      • BSTCN Members
  • Coral Watch
    • Coral Bleaching 101 >
      • Healthy vs. Unhealthy Coral
      • Remote Sensing
    • Coral Watch Publications
    • Coral Network >
      • Coral Members
  • Lionfish
    • Lionfish Served Here!
    • History in Belize >
      • GCFI Fisherman Exchange
      • COMPACT Lionfish Project
    • Lionfish Publications
    • Caribbean Strategies >
      • Culling Protocol
  • Reef 365
    • Reef 365 Reports
  • Ocean Watch
    • Manatee Deaths >
      • 2017 Manatee Deaths
      • Archives Manatees
      • Manatee Facts
    • Climate Change
    • Oil Exploration
    • Ciguatera
    • Haulover Creek
    • Wildlife Interactions
  • Marine Mammals
    • Sightings >
      • False Killer Whale
      • Humpback Whale Sightings
      • Killer Whales
    • Whale Stamps
    • Marine Mammal Workshop >
      • Management Considerations
      • Interaction Guidelines >
        • Vessels & Approaches
        • Swimming With
    • Marine Mammal Rescue
  • Get Involved
    • Adopt A Beach >
      • Adopt A Beach Sign Up
      • Adopted Beaches
    • Adopt A Reef >
      • Adopted Reefs
    • Volunteer
    • Reserve A Trip
  • Submit Report
    • Coral Watch
    • Lionfish Hunter
    • Oceans 365 Rare
    • Oceans 365 Report
    • Octopus
    • Turtle Watch In-Water
    • Turtle Watch Nesting Beach
    • Submit Report Nesting Beach Old
    • Turtle Shell 4 Sale
    • Turtle Watch Stranded
    • Marine Mammal Form
  • Gift Shop
  • Donate
  • Contact